Character: Radically Living for Jesus

Introduction

You may have heard Christianity is ethics supplemented with belief in Jesus. It’s not, though. New Testament Christianity is radical. It forces us to ask: What kind of radicals will we be?

Jesus wanted to revolutionize the way people thought, acted and lived. The choice to believe in Jesus is step one. The choice to live ethically is a natural step two. But the choice to have your entire life shaped and defined by Jesus living vicariously through you—that is a difficult one. Christ in us, resurrecting us, has become uncommon theology. Yet that’s what Paul preached.

There’s a reason relationship of all kinds perplex us. There’s a reason why ethical and moral dilemmas of everyday life defeat us. It’s because we don’t acknowledge that Jesus can, and desires to be, involved in every part of our lives. And in not acknowledging His power, we ignore the greatest part of Christianity: Christ wants to change our world through us.

In these next eight studies, Paul offers us practical tips for being like Jesus and explains how Christ can dwell in each of us and in our communities.

The Apostle Paul was and is great in showing us what it means to live for Christ.

Colossians is a great book to study for christian living

E. M. BOUNDS – Conduct is what we do; character is what we are. Conduct is the outward life. Character is the life unseen, hidden within, yet evidenced by that which is seen. Conduct is external, seen from without; character is internal—operating within. In the economy of grace, conduct is the offspring of character. Character is the state of the heart, conduct its outward expression. Character is the root of the tree, conduct, the fruit it bears.

Christianity is not a theory or a speculation, but a life; not a philosophy of life, but a life and a living process. SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE

SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE

Living holy, or a holy life will produce the deepest impressions. Lighthouses blow no horns, they only shine. Dwight Moody

Put on a New Self

A pastor or elder should live holily, in prayer, in desires and thought, in godly conversation and honest teaching, having God’s commandment and His gospel ever on his lips. And let his deeds be so righteous that no man may be able with cause to find fault with them, and so open his acts that he may be a true book to all sinful and wicked men to serve God. For the example of a good life stirs men more than true preaching with only the naked word.

Little things are the best signs of character. Straws thrown into the air show which way the wind blows much better than the throwing up of bullets or cannonballs. In great things we have more thought of others, we are moved more by surrounding influences. In little things there is not the possibility of concealment. We must sometimes forget, and then we act ourselves.

Pray that Christ would help you to see past the differences between you and others.

Reflect on verses .

To “put on a new self” via Christ (3:10) and be resurrected with Him (3:1) has implications not only for our personal lives, but also for our public lives. What divides us even though we are in Christ (3:11)? What did Paul want Christians of his day to do about cultural and racial divisions?

How does culture, specifically popular media, divide people today? Do you label people and categorize them?

What would Paul say about labels and categorization? Remember labels run deep—even to subconscious levels. What should we “put on” (3:12)?

How can you become better at “bearing with” others and forgiving others (3:13)? Why should you forgive? Whom do you need to forgive?

Love More Graciously

Pray that God would help us to love more graciously.

. Paul is urging communities to be unified in their love for one another.

When the Beatles sang “all you need is love,” they were articulating a view of their generation. The idea wasn’t new. When people categorized as new-agers say, “just love,” they’re also not saying anything new. Unfortunately, this truth is not always lived out the way God intended. Love isn’t all we need; we also need truth. Paul said, “put on love” because “it binds everything together in perfect harmony” (). Paul understood that Christ-like love will keep us from sinning and help us live righteously, for the betterment of others. The best way to get over yourself is to start living for the good of someone else. Doing something helpful for someone else helps you put your problems in perspective—this is Paul’s Christianity.

What is Paul’s advice for being like Jesus (3:14)? How does he categorize Christ-like action?

What should rule our hearts (3:15)? What were we called to do? (When Paul refers to “one body,” he is talking about the Church—those who gather in Christ’s name.)

Letting Christ rule means framing our desires and actions with Him in mind. What areas of your public life are not ruled by Christ?

To whom specifically can you show more love? How can you show more love to people each and every day?

Christ Dwells In Us

The first and great work of a Christian is about his heart. There it is that God dwells by his Spirit, in his saints; and there it is that sin and Satan reign, in the ungodly. The great duties and the great sins are those of the heart. There is the root of good and evil: the tongue and life are but the fruits and expressions of that which dwells within.

Nearness to him, intimacy with him, assimilation to his character—these are the elements of a ministry of power. When we can tell our people, “We beheld his glory, and therefore we speak of it; it is not from report we speak, but we have seen the King in his beauty”—how lofty the position we occupy!

Pray that the Spirit would help you embrace the idea of Christ living vicariously through you.

Reflect on verses .

Why should we let the “word of Christ dwell in [us] richly” (3:16)?

Bible study is not merely an intellectual exercise; it’s also a spiritual exercise. It prepares us for the future and helps us handle what is happening now. What should we do with the word of Christ? How can we act upon the word of Christ (3:16)? What mediums can we use?

What should we do “in the name of the Lord Jesus” (3:17)? Why should we be thankful (3:15, 17)?

Being thankful to God requires prayer. It’s a mindset for approaching life and an acknowledgement that all that we have comes from Him. It’s an internal guidance system. What is your mindset? How does it need to change?

Closing

Paul is pragmatic. His pragmatism, though, is always rooted in a theological reality: the life-altering work of Christ. Christ desires to be involved in everything we do. Involving Him can change the dynamics of relationships and make the solution for ethical dilemmas clear.

May you embrace Christ’s revolutionary work. May God resurrect you with Christ and Christ give you a new life. May His spirit work through you to change the world.

Being an example is the most powerful rhetoric; the highest and noblest example should be very quickening and provoking

God delights to dwell with the humble. Here is a wonder. God is on high and yet the higher a man lifts himself up, the farther he is from God. The lower a man humbles himself, the nearer he is to God. Of all souls, God delights most to dwell with the humble, for they do most prize and best improve his precious presence.

Jesus is the ultimate example of character. In every way! He made us in his image and he wants us to be imitators of him and of his word.

Jesus was beaten for no fault of his own. He never said a word.

Jesus was falsely accused, talked about, mocked, antagonized but he never said a word. His character is bar none.

He made the greatest sacrifice for us. We should sacrifice for the sake of others.

He took all of our stuff on his shoulders, died and rosed again. There is no excuse. It is there reasonable thing to do.

Christ desires to be involved in everything we do. Involving Him can change the dynamics of relationships and make the solution for ethical dilemmas clear.

Paul gives the great principle for living that everything we do or say should be done and said in the name of Jesus. One of the best tests of any action is: ‘Can we do it, calling upon the name of Jesus? Can we do it, asking for his help?’ One of the best tests of any word is: ‘Can we speak it and in the same breath name the name of Jesus? Can we speak it, remembering that he will hear?’ If we bring every word and deed to the test of the presence of Jesus Christ, we will not go wrong.

May you embrace Christ’s revolutionary work. May God resurrect you with Christ and Christ give you a new life. May His spirit work through you to change the world.